Everton were planning a HUGE transfer in summer. BIG money!

Diego Costa is now back in Madrid after spending a very extended summer break hiding in Brazil. Not wanting to go back and face up to his Chelsea mess, Costa instead hid, picked up fines, and waited for the inevitable deal with Atletico Madrid.

Given the situation, and Costa’s condition, Chelsea did well to get £50m+ for the player, regardless of him only being willing to join Atletico, but Marca believe they could have got much more.

Ronald Koeman’s need for a senior striker is no secret, the Dutchman would have been thrilled to get someone of Costa’s standard at Goodison Park, and Marca believe a big effort was made for the transfer to happen.

The Spanish newspaper, in their Saturday edition, claim Everton offered €75m for Costa towards the end of the summer transfer window. That figure would have pleased Chelsea, given what they’re accepted from Atletico, but Costa was absolutely determined it would be Atletico.

Everton couldn’t convince Costa to move to Merseyside instead and that’s how the story unfolded, at least according to Marca.